The Modern Monk

This year, the word that emerged with me from my three days of prayer, silence, solitude and fasting at the start of 2012 was “SURRENDER”. I have to honestly say I thought it had had it’s run. But right now, I am seeing the need to surrender in ways that are making it exceedingly difficult to do – more difficult than I imagined.

And so, to my surprise (or not so surprise), today’s homily from the Office of Readings from St John Chrysostom (one of my favourite early church fathers) is about, you guessed it, surrender. What was most surprising was his text from Matthew 10:16 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Doves innocent and surrendering, yes. But snakes?!

Here is an excerpt from what the Golden Tongue wrote. I hope you are as challenged and encouraged by it also.

“What cleverness is the Lord requiring here? The cleverness of a snake. A snake will surrender everything and will put up no great resistance even if its body is being cut in pieces, provided it can save its head. So you, the Lord is saying, must surrender everything but your faith: money, body, even life itself. For faith is the head and the root; keep that, and though you lose all else, you will get it back in abundance. The Lord therefore counselled the disciples to be not simply clever or innocent; rather he joined the two qualities so that they become a genuine virtue. He insisted on the cleverness of the snake so that deadly wounds might be avoided, and he insisted on the innocence of the dove so that revenge might not be taken on those who injure or lay traps for you. Cleverness is useless without innocence.”

Looks like in the last 32 days of 2012 I still have some inner work to do and some exercising of it in the outer world. May God give us strength by His Spirit to achieve this virtue which is so non-21st Century Christian, let alone person…

Cheers and Peace,

Br. Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk

I’m tired. Or at least I think I’m tired. It’s been a full on year, which tells me something – that I probably haven’t found the right balance of work, prayer and community in my abbey (read my family at my house for this Modern Monk). But that’s another story…

Right now I am thinking about the fact that I only think I am tired. In other words, I’m not sure if I’m tired. I feel all the symptoms, but sleep doesn’t seem to remedy the problem. Perhaps I’m not getting enough, or maybe there is something else in the mix…

Today, I finished Kathleen Norris’ brilliant memoir, The Cloister Walk. I highly recommend it (again though, that’s another story). As usual, the publisher had a page upon which some more of Norris’ book titles are printed to, I suppose, take advantage of the euphoria of the reader and get them to buy another title. (This is by no means a criticism of Ms Norris who I hope keeps writing so she needs to be paid somehow; and who unlikely had the option to say “no” to the idea of promoting her other titles). One of those titles caught my eye:

Recently, I was a leader in our schools character development programme, The Journey, which is run with Yr 10 students every year. In that programme, acedia was a topic that came up in discussion about sloth. They are close cousins, the programme suggested; and in some ways this is true. But I’m not convinced that acedia and sloth are the same.

The Oxford Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church defines acedia as “a state of restlessness and inability either to work or to pray”. In the blurb about Norris’ book, it suggests another term for acedia is “soul-weariness”.

While I’m not quite in the place of being unable to work or pray, I can identify with the idea of being restless and soul-weary. In fact, just seeing that compound word – “soul-weariness” – in that blurb made me feel as if a yoke had been taken off my shoulders; that there was in fact a term to define how I have been feeling for a few weeks now. Acedia gives me an end point for the “symptoms” I feel, and now I can work on trying to avoid it.

Desert Father, John Cassian, believed that the road for a monk out of acedia began with a rededication to their monastic vows. From there, his advice is to:
- work with their hands and to be present to their work;
- avoid getting carried away in memories and thinking and daydreaming;
- avoid too much sleep;
- avoid running away from ordinary routines;
- create a rhythm for ordinary work and ordinary prayer and spiritual practices and to stick to it.

It’s Cassian’s last point that hit me. The busyness and taking on some extra tasks has thrown out any schedule and rhythm to the work of prayer in my life. I’m beginning to see that it is the overwhelming feeling of keeping up coupled with the lack of Divine intimacy through prayer and Spiritual Disciplines that has made me feel the way I do.

And so, for the third or fourth time since The Modern Monk Project began, I re-dedicate myself to the (modern)monastic profession to living the Christian life with the road illuminated by the Rule of St Benedict. And rather than feeling negative about that figure, I instead feel a sense of reality about it – that the Christian life is not about perfection but about authenticity.

Besides, I am real enough to know that this rededication, as the previous 2 or three, is by no means likely to be my last…

Cheers & Peace,
Br Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk

Mr Mike is a tailor of Indian descent. His shop, C&D Collection, is nestled in a Main Street in Chiangmai, Thailand, where he makes suits and dresses for men & women with his amazing array of fine fabrics. The guy is amazingly good – he had me measured up in under a minute – which could be a product of skill or the length of time he’s worked his trade, or both. This photo below was taken at my fitting literally 4hrs after being measured. The suit was available next day!

But great suits aside, there is something about Mr Mike that this Modern Monk found fascinating; something that made my visit to Mr Mike just extraordinarily different to any shopping experience I ever have at home…

It’s called “Humble Service”.

The minute we walked into Mr Mike’s shop, we were waited on hand & foot. Mr Mike’s staff went nuts. The air-con was switched on, the comfy couch was cleared, one staff member went out and bought cokes for us. Amazing!

Funny enough, it’s possible that this comes from his Indian heritage. I remember jewellery stores in Hyderabad that would go out of their way like this. Sure, this could be viewed as simply a tactic to get you to buy. But even if that’s all it is, it’s still a long way from the “harrumph and I shall ignore you; please don’t disturb me with your question about having your size while I fold this shirt and talk to my co-worker” attitude I get in Australia – not always but quite often.

Mr Mike is a humble person whose heart is to serve his client with his skill and make for you a piece of art you can wear that will look and feel perfect for you.

The hallmark of Christian activity is humble service. Jesus didn’t just talk about it, he modelled it right down to foot washing and dying for others. And he didn’t grumble and complain about it either. He just did it and tells us that if we love him we’ll do it too.

I hope I can be like Mr Mike as I serve Christ and the people with whom I share the planet. Humble service. And it begins right here at home…

Cheers & Peace,

Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk

Lots of things in the Bible challenge me about the way I live. Even outside of The Modern Monk Project – simply as a Christian – there should be a daily reflection on the scriptures in which I take a deep and sincere look at my life in relation to what I have read. But nothing – NOTHING – challenges me more at the moment than the notion of Sabbath.

Take a look at this video in which committed Christian and Columbia Pictures VP, DeVon Franklin, talks to Oprah Winfrey about his commitment to Sabbath as a Christian. Put aside for a moment any differences you might have about the day (Franklin is a Seventh-Day Adventist) and listen to how his commitment to his walk with Jesus takes priority in his life.

DeVon Franklin talks to Oprah about Sabbath

There are probably 101 or more reasonable reasons NOT to keep a Sabbath in the way Franklin describes. But I argue that not a single one of them will be a good one.

Sabbath is not just about rest; it is also about restoration. It is about giving control of our life back to God. On one day in a week, can we put aside our need to create – wealth, growth, ideas, etc – and just be, giving control of the creating back to God for just one day?

If we can’t there is something wrong.

Our modern world doesn’t want us to stop. And, we might argue, if we do and the world keeps going, we’ll get behind, right? In Toowoomba, Qld, the airport shuttle service shuts down from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. On arguably the busiest time in a week (business people returning from weeks away in their jobs on a Friday night) this company run by committed Christians shuts to observe Sabbath. They don’t even get other staff to keep it going – everyone gets the day off.

But their business doesn’t falter and runs strong. That said, even if it didn’t, I suspect these people would not care! Their commitment to God and a day committed to Him is more important and they have chosen, even in the face of economic irrationality, to keep the Sabbath.

And before you try and argue on “law” taking control of these people’s lives, dare I encourage you to seriously consider the root of that argument – whether it’s really about your resistance to Sabbath.

That’s where Franklin’s last two thoughts in that video are mighty powerful, especially the second one. Here they are again:
1. If I embrace who I am, it will open doors, not shut them.
2. If your faith won’t fit in the door that opens, then I argue do not walk through that door. The door that God opens for you will fit your faith.

Go back and study the Sabbath laws and why God gave them to us. And then think carefully about your life. Does your faith fit in the lifestyle you lead? Perhaps rather than dropping bits of my faith that don’t fit my lifestyle, I should be dropping bits of my lifestyle that don’t fit my faith.

What are your arguments (generally or to yourself) about Sabbath keeping?

Cheers and Peace,

Br Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk

Wow! It’s September tomorrow and here I am – post #3 for 2012!!

In short – the Project continues to continue and in fact has intensified; but amongst all of that, regular blogging has been hard to achieve (can you tell?!).

So here’s what we’re going to do:

START OVER!

Yep! The resolution post is effective now until December 2013. Over the next year- and-a-bit, let’s try and see if we can’t see this thing roll.

Because if truth be known, this has been an amazing lesson in discipline… And forgiveness, and grace.

Here endeth the lesson. Let’s begin again now!

Br Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk

Friend of mine has just posted the pic below on Facebook. Taken in an unnamed Australian supermarket (although my Aussie readers can probably make out the chain from the price cards on the table), it shows the epitome of commercialisation…

Yes, what you see there are Easter Buns or Hot Cross Buns displayed on Jan 5, 2012!! As Megan said in her post, “…Jesus isn’t even two weeks old yet!”

Another commenter on Megan’s post said they saw Easter Eggs out on the 27th of Dec!! This is quite blatantly the supermarkets piggy-backing the next big season.

Has Jesus become a commodity to be consumed a few times a year. And here’s a thought – I wonder if we in the church are partly to blame for this? Think about how we treat our faith and how we outwork it; and how it’s all about feeling good and enjoying it and the trappings of the occasion.

But here’s the rub: what will we do? Will we buy them or ignore them? Will we make a statement to the managers of these places? After all, they aren’t stupid – they aren’t going to put stuff out that they think won’t sell. There must be some thought back there (maybe) that makes them think this is okay.

So – what would your next step be?!

Cheers & Peace,

Br Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk

So, a couple of days ago I reflected with you on how my resolutions for 2011 went. Now, it’s time to set some new goals and challenges for 2012. Before I do, I should probably make you aware of my new circumstances; which will add some understanding to the resolutions.

At the end of August this year, I commenced as Head of Spiritual Life at a school on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Known as one of Australia’s premier coastal tourist spots with some of the country’s most amazing beaches and beautiful mountainous hinterland areas (don’t hate me!) the Gold Coast also has its fair share of issues: a reputation for high crime rate; a very plastic and fake environment; and a diverse socio-economic make up from the ridiculously wealthy to the significantly poor to name but three.

The school I work in is an interesting place. An unashamedly Christian school that has embraced a culture that is intentionally (and truly) multi-denominational with a full Christian staff and a student body that is about 40% Christian, 60% not Christian, Emmanuel College seeks to engage students with a Christianity that embraces faith with a link to Scripture, reason and tradition and moves them to action in a vibrant and very real and life changing way.

It is in this environment that I have executive responsibility for anything that touches Christian faith – which in our school is basically everything! Which means I have a grave responsibility to represent a way of life and faith that can be lived a way that truly embraces what Jesus says and permeates every avenue of our lives. Kind of what St. Benedict was all about.

So it is in this new city and in this place of work that I engage as a Christian who seeks to follow the path of Jesus illuminated by light from the Rule of St. Benedict. And with that in mind, I resolve to place the following as goals to attain in The Modern Monk Project in 2012…

1. I will be starting the year, from January 1, with 3 days of Silence and Fasting.

Yes, what began as what I thought would be a nice way to start the year (and it was) has become something I intend to do every year. I can’t imagine starting a year any other way… 

As it was in 2011, the silence shall include technology. Thankfully, I am a bit more clued up on the use of some technology that will allow my daily Twitter and Facebook posts reflecting on the readings for the day to continue during that three day period – and how you can have this post appear on my website on January 1!

2. I will continue to develop my engagement with the church calendar and holy days throughout the year; and celebrate them with meaning.

Beyond just realizing “Wow, today is Holy Innocents – what the Dickens is that?!” I will be seeking to embrace the days and look for ways to engage in their meaning by intentionally celebrating them either alone, or with those around me (see Resolution 6). This will include getting to know the Saints better (modern and traditional).

3. To observe Lent with a limited fast in the first 26 days; and a complete fast in the last 14 days.

40 Days is probably a bit of a stretch. I might just be saying that, or I might actually believe – to be honest I can’t tell! But wisdom tells me that moderation is the key to success. So, if I do a traditional “Monks Fast” (a light meal at the start and the end of the day, staying away from certain foods) for the first two-thirds of Lent, and fully fasting the last third, I think I can achieve that and calm the nerves of the well-meaning people around me who have shown some concern…(!)

4. To seek simplicity in my life by scaling back.

This is kind of like the resolution from last year regarding my environment. What I want to do here is make myself unencumbered from the “stuff” that clutters my life. And in doing so, I am sure I will bless others and find contentment with what I have. I also intend the simplicity to engage my work by keeping me focused on the important stuff and not the peripherals which will only cause me to lose focus on what is needed.

5. To develop my links to Benedictine Spirituality.

In late 2011, I made contact with the Anglican Benedictine community at Camperdown in Victoria – the same place I hoped to visit in 2011. This year, I intend to do at least one stretch of time with the Monks and to speak to the Abbott and Director of Oblates regarding a formal connection to the community. I hope in future this will become two visits.

I also intend to spend the first part of 2012 in Lectio Divina on the Rule, and will be reflecting on it in regards to both my work and my home (see below).

6. To seek ways to bring the Rule into my household and my place of work.

This year, I’ve come to realise that God has placed me in a position where at work I can develop a rule of life that allows me to live this on campus; and share it with the staff and student community too. Further to my comment in Resolution 5, I am hoping to seek the wisdom of the rule as a way of life for the school community in which I spend my day. I also realise that my own household is a community in which the Rule has a place, and I hope to be able to share its wisdom with my wife and children as we live together this year.

7. To share what I am learning through the blog and be committed to this work as a ministry.

Simple enough – I need to do what I said last year: A regular update, an essay from time to time, reviews and our very own retreats and resources to help people engage as a modern monastic. I am also blessed to be joined by my long term friend and fellow Modern Monastic, Br Mark B, who will also share on the blog. Mark lives in Canberra with his wife, Katie, who is a musician and teacher; and their 3 children. Mark has one of the most amazing New Testament minds I know – and his reflections on the Scriptures as we move through the year will certainly enhance what The Modern Monk Project is about.

So there you have it. Let’s see how we go this year. What resolutions do you have in place for 2012? Drop me a line at themodernmonk@gmail.com if you’d like someone to pray with you throughout the year.

Cheers and Peace for a blessed and radical 2012 for you and your family,

Br Mark G

~aka The Modern Monk.

As I prepare for my coming 3 days of silence and fasting, I note that like last year I want something inside me to change. I have just read a quote that’s made me realise I want to seek to Occupy the Gospel in 2012. What’s that?! Take it away, Jim Wallis (Sojourners)…

“Occupy the Gospel.

What would it mean if Christians fully occupied the Gospel?

To me, it means that Christians would lead the way to welcome the stranger among us and advocate on behalf of those living in fear of war; to ensure that everyone has enough to eat and a safe place to sleep at night.”

How about you?!

Annual resolutions blog post hits this blog tomorrow morning! Till then, please remember to pray for me over the next three days; and Happy New Year!

Cheers & Peace,

Br Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk

Today is an optional memorial for St. Thomas Becket. The commentary on the saint of the day at the Universalis website has an interesting thought regarding belief and Scripture…

It begins by noting the “Elijah and Elisha” controversy: their names and miracles are so similar that some scholars argue that they are the same person, “with narratives from two different sources of the prophet’s life having been accidentally included one after the other.”

But what’s that got to do with Thomas? Universalis explains:

“A learned and worldly man called Thomas, a close and trusted friend of King Henry, is appointed by the king to a high office where he is expected to be loyal and take the king’s part against all others, even the Church. Conscious of his unworthiness for the office he has been given, Thomas suffers an interior conversion and resolves to follow his conscience, God’s voice within him. His upholding of truth and the Church’s rights leads to a conflict with the king, who feels betrayed by his trusted friend. Eventually Thomas is killed; subsequently he is canonized.

Are we talking about Henry II of England and Thomas à Becket? Or Henry VIII of England and Thomas More? The same description applies equally to both.

We can imagine a wise scholar of the 30th century arguing that there was only one Henry and only one Thomas, and that early sources accidentally split them into two. But the wise scholar would be wrong. Whatever doubts we hold about the history and transmission of Scripture, we should never quite forget that what we read about may be what really happened.”

Something to chew on…

Cheers & Peace,

Br Mark G
~ aka The Modern Monk